Master Thesis: Optimising rig test planning using data and experimental design
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 18, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 27, 2026. Volvo Group scores A on the Alion truth index.
Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match.
Thesis Background
Volvo Penta has a vested interest in utilizing and understanding vast amounts of data as well as in ensuring product quality to reinforce the trust of its customers.
To that end, extensive test in local rigs and field applications is conducted to ensure performance and compliance with legislation, generating huge amounts of data. The test facility management team conducting these tests and evaluates them with support from us at Volvo Penta Data Science & Engineering (VPDS&E) to include new technologies and improve efficiency working with the data.
During this endeavour, a lot of costly and complex tests are conducted and analysed, generating a lot of data of which a lot can be assumed to be superfluous or redundant.
We at VPDS&E together with Test Facility Development are now looking to utilize all the data and knowledge to reduce the number of tests needed to fulfil requirements and speed up the testing processes through exploitation of the existing data and appropriate statistics techniques.
What you will do?
Our purpose with this thesis is to gather the testing processes, definitions and available data to analyse and optimize the testing process and remove unnecessary tests. We see possibilities to detect redundant tests automatically and cover all requirements through the smart combination of test aspects utilising intelligent experiment design and data analysis.
This thesis will focus on identifying superfluous tests, combining existing tests and developing the analysis to ensure all requirements are met with as few physical tests as possible.
Which tests can be combined to test different variable settings?
How can we analyse them to still get the necessary testing outcomes?
Which clutter can be removed through the efficient use of the existing data?
From Volvo Penta’s perspective, this research represents a significant opportunity to enhance our testing processes and reduce both time to market and environmental impact while ensuring reliable quality and compliance.
What We Use: Tools and Technologies in Our Daily Operations
In our daily operations, we rely on a diverse set of tools and technologies to manage and process data effectively. Python is central to our scripting and automation tasks. While we are working on migrating data into Azure databricks, some data is only available in on prem storage.
Who will you work with?
This thesis is a collaboration between the Data Science & Engineering and Test Facility Development teams and thus there will be a mentor from each team to ensure that you understand both the domain and test processes correctly and you get the necessary support with data and analytics questions.
Qualifications for this role
We are looking for 2 master students in any of the following fields or related disciplines:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Machine Learning
- Physics
- Knowledge of statistics and big data analysis
- Some programming proficiency
Ready for the next move?
Are you excited to bring your skills and disruptive ideas to the table? We can’t wait to hear from you. Apply today!
The last application date is the 30th of October
Contact details
Andreas Nyman, Manager Data Science & Engineering, [email protected]
Christian Beckers, Feature Lead Data, [email protected]
We value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications via mail.
Who we are and what we believe in
We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.
Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment.
Volvo Penta, a world-leading supplier of engines and complete drive systems for marine and industrial applications, you will be part of a global and diverse team of highly skilled professionals who works with passion, trust each other and embraces change to stay ahead. We make our customers win.